Evers Is Trying to Bring Legal Weed to Wisconsin. Here’s Who It Would Help.

As part of biennial budget, revenue would go towards rural schools and underserved communities.

Evers announced on Sunday that his proposed biennial budget includes a provision to legalize recreational marijuana and allocate half the projected tax revenue to underserved and rural communities across the state. 

The initiative could bring in an estimated $165 million in tax revenue, of which Evers has proposed allocating $80 million to a community reinvestment fund.  

“Legalizing and taxing marijuana in Wisconsin—just like we do already with alcohol—ensures a controlled market and safe product are available for both recreational and medicinal users and can open the door for countless opportunities for us to reinvest in our communities and create a more equitable state,” said Evers in a press release. “Frankly, red and blue states across the country have moved forward with legalization and there is no reason Wisconsin should be left behind when we know it’s supported by a majority of Wisconsinites.”

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) told UpNorthNews last year that he supports efforts to bring medical marijuana to the state but blamed Evers for the lack of headway because he, “went all the way to basically legalizing recreational marijuana.” 

A 2019 Marquette University Law Poll found that nearly 60 percent of Wisconsinites support the legalization of marijuana and 83 percent of Wisconsinites support the legalization of medical marijuana.